Shloka 21
Adhyaya 2 — The Lineage of Garuda and the Birth of the Wise Birds: Kanka and Kandhara
यदि ते निहतो भ्राता पौरुषं तद्धि दर्शितम् । त्वामप्यद्य हनिष्ये ऽहं खड्गेनानेन खेचर ॥
yadi te nihato bhrātā pauruṣaṃ taddhi darśitam / tvāmapyadya haniṣye 'haṃ khaḍgenānena khecara
اگر تمہارا بھائی واقعی مارا گیا ہے، تو وہاں میری بہادری دکھائی گئی ہے۔ اے پرندے (کھیچر)، آج میں اس تلوار سے تمہیں بھی ہلاک کر دوں گا۔
FAQs
The verse illustrates the Kshatriya code where killing an enemy in battle is not a matter of regret but a demonstration of 'Paurusha' (manliness/valor). The speaker uses the death of the opponent's brother as proof of his martial capability rather than a reason for apology.
'Khecara' literally means 'one who moves in the sky'. In the context of the Markandeya Purana's early chapters, this typically refers to a Vidyadhara, Gandharva, or Rakshasa who interacts with the terrestrial protagonists, often leading to the curses or events that result in the birth of the narrator-birds.
This verse is part of the 'Upodghata' (introduction) or frame story explaining the origin of the four wise birds (Dharmapakshis) who subsequently narrate the bulk of the Purana to Jaimini.